Electrical connection clip

ABSTRACT

An electrical coupling device designed for instantaneous manual coupling of a conductor, such as an electrical conductor wire, to the conducting pin of an electrical apparatus of any type. The coupling has the general cross-sectional shape of a C whose body is approximately flat and has a lug protruding toward the inside of the C and whose wings are respectively constituted of a pair of small tongues which are sloped with respect to the base.

United States Patent [191 Duchatellier [451 July 23,1974

[ ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CLIP [75] Inventor: Bernard CharlesDuchatellier, Paris,

France [73] Assignee: Rapid S. A., Paris, France [22] Filed: Jan. 22,1973 [21] Appl. No.: 323,597

[52] US. Cl. 339/244 R, 339/258 S [51] Int. Cl. H011 13/24 [58] Field ofSearch 339/244, 256, 258

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,183,471 5/1965 Burkert339/258 RR 3,251,022 5/1966 I-Iammell 339/256 SP 3,273,102 9/1966Cobaugh 339/258 S 3,452,324 6/1969 Fitzpatrick 339/256 SP I 3,729,7014/1973 Smith 339/258 S FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain339/244 R OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Legge etal., SlipOn Electrical Connector, 11970, Vol 12, No. 8 p. 1199/ PrimaryExaminer-J0seph H. McGlynn Attorney, Agent, or FirmTeagno & Toddy [5 7]ABSTRACT An electrical coupling device designed for instantaneous manualcoupling of a conductor, such as an electrical conductor wire, to theconducting pin of an electrical apparatus of any type. The coupling hasthe general cross-sectional shape of a C whose body is approximatelyflat and has a lug protruding toward the inside of the C and whose wingsare respectively constituted of a pair of small tongues which are slopedwith respect to the base.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CLIP BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to anelectrical coupling device for a fastenable terminal and moreparticularly, to an electrical connector intended for the instant manualelectrical connection between a conductor and a conducting pin belongingto an electrical apparatus of any type.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various types of electrical terminals,or electrical coupling devices, are known in the prior art which permitthe connecting of an electrical conducting wire to a metallic element ofan apparatus which must be supl5.

plied with electrical current. For example, it is known to use terminalscomprising a flat washer prolonged by a small lug, the edges of the lugbeing capable of being folded against each other so'as to make asetting, or mechanical grip, on the previously stripped conductor wire,and the washer being fastened by means of a screw to the metallicelement of the device to be supplied with current. However, suchterminal connectors have proven to be less than satisfactory as theelectrical connection thus developed requires a plurality of parts andremains very fragile, especially if the devices provided with suchterminals are subject to vibrations. Such terminals mayactually loosenthemselves, and more specifically, the conductor wire held in the lug ofthe terminal may have a tendency to escape from the latter when subjectto vibration. In addition, connecting terminals of the type discussedabove have proven to require a considerable time for assembly especiallywhen an apparatus requires a plurality of electrical connections to bemade to a plurality of conducting pins which are located closelytogether. Additionally, terminals used in the above-mentioned situationmay tend to twist which can bring them into contact with each othercreating a short circuit which may result in damage to the apparatusbeing supplied with current.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present inventionthe drawbacks of the prior art have been overcome to the extent that arelatively simple and inexpensive electrical coupling device has beenprovided which will form an electrical connection which is very secureand permits the instant and manual connection of the conducting pin ofan electrical apparatus to be supplied with current with an electricalconducting wire. It is understood that the term manual is intended todescribe a mode of operation and that the coupling device of the presentinvention may, of course, be utilized in connection with a mechanizedconnection process. The connecting device of the present invention ispreferably used with a connecting pin which is flat in shape but is alsousable with connecting pins of any shape. To perform the electricalcoupling operation it suffices to simply strip the end of the conductorwire and then, using the coupling device of the present invention, placethe coupling device on the pin and then the stripped end of the wireinto the coupling device.

The electrical coupling device of'the present invention provides acoupling forming a fastenable terminal for a quick electrical junctionbetween a conductor and a conducting pin of the type having across-sectionally generally C-shaped form with wings which are closeenough to the core of the C to be able to grip said pin against saidconductor, the coupling device being characterized that the wings arepartly folded back outward following an oblique line of folding toensure the catching of the conductor in a position which will lock saidconductor against the conducting pin.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the wings of the Ceach consist respectively of a pair of small tongues whose ends arefolded back obliquely outward. The oblique fold of the small tongues isso made that one of the edges of the said tongues is raised to permitthe insertion of the conductor and the opposite edge of said tongues islowered to provide a biting edge to grip the conductor and prevent itsremoval from the coupling.

According to another characteristic of the present invention anembrasure, or space without material, whose width is approximately halfof that of the conductor cited above is provided between the two wings.The embrasure is adapted to receive the conductor and will thus assistin placing the conductor on the center line of the conducting pin. Theform of the C includes a lug protruding into the C for engagement in anopening made in the pin during the preliminary fastening of the couplingto the said pin. The lug is constituted of a small triangular strip cutout of the body of the C and bent in towards the inside of the body ofthe C. Thus, it may be seen that the coupling of the present inventionis in fimi contact with the pin, and that the electrical connectionestablished after inserting the wire into the coupling is direct, thatis, it is developed without passing current by means of the coupling,which advantageously eliminates successive or intermediate contactswhich might cause heating which would be damaging to the proper behaviorof the connection. F inally, it will be noted that the coupling of thepresent invention is effected by a mechanical gripping of the conductorto the pin, and that thus the foldings, crossings, intersections, andoverlappings of the wire which were required with many of the prior artcoupling devices are eliminated, which reduces the risk of a falsecontact and short-circuiting. All these advantages are essentiallyobtained due to the fact that a coupling according to the presentinvention remains relatively simple and compact.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a newand improved electrical coupling device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved electrical coupling device designed for the instant manualelectrical connection between a conductor and a conducting pin.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an economicaland compact electrical connection device intended for the instant manualelectric connection between a conductor and a conducting pin belongingto an electrical device of any type.

Other advantages and objects of the present invention will become moreapparent from a reading of the following detailed description andreference to the attached' drawings, which are given by way of exampleonly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingthe coupling of the present invention between the stripped end of anelectrical conductor wire and the conducting pin of an electricalapparatus to be supplied with electrical current.

FIG. 2 is a plane view of the coupling of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view made along the line IIIIII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation and partial section showing the couplingof the present invention mounted in position on one of the conductingpins of an electrical apparatus which is not shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The electrical coupling device 1of the present invention has in cross-section the general shape of a C(see FIG. 3) and is formed in a metal strip or sheet having suitableelastic or spring characteristics. The coupling device 1 is so shapedthat it will tightly envelop the flat piece or outlet pin 2 of anelectrical apparatus 3 to be supplied with current when placed thereon.

The body 4 of the C is generally flat and includes a lug 5a consistingof a small triangular strip cut out and bent into the inside of the C.The lug 5a is advantageously connected during the preliminary fasteningof the coupling 1 to the pin 2 of an opening 6 provided in the pin 2.

The flat body of the C is prolonged on each side by two approximatelysemi-circular bendings 5 which are respectively prolonged by two pairsof small tongues whose root 7 is approximately parallel to the flat body4 of the C, and whose respective ends 8 are slightly folded upwardfollowing a certain incidence in relation to the longitudinal axis X-X(see FIG. 2) as will be described in greater detail below. The bendings5 and the tongues comprise the wings of the C.

The ends 8 of the tongues are folded back outward along a sloping lineof fold as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, and more precisely, this slopingfold is made so as to raise the edges or ridges 10 of each tongue, andto lower the opposite edges or ridges 11 of the tongues, so that as wesee better in FIG. 4, the ridges ll bite the stripped end 12 of theelectrical wire 13 after its insertion into the coupling between the pin2 and the tongues, while the ridges l0 permit the easy introduction ofthe stripped end 12 into the coupling.

It has been established that the ridges 11 penetrate advantageously intothe material constituting the end 12 of the wire 12 and thus oppose itswithdrawal by traction. It is also noted that forces tending to extractthe wire 13 cause the tongues to dig deeper into the wire 13 and theconnection becomes more solid.

Finally, it will be noted that the embrasure or space without material14 is provided between the two wings of C, the width of this embrasurebeing equal to about half of that of conductor wire. The embrasure 14which is adapted to receive the conductor is centered with respect tothe coupling device 1 and will thus aid in centering the conductor 13with respect to the center line of conducting pin 2.

The assembly of the coupling 1 according to the present invention can bevery easily inferred from the description which has just been given.Initially, the coupling device 1 is introduced by sliding it onto thepin 2 of the device to be supplied with electric current. The saidcoupling device 1 will lock itself to the pin 2 by means of the lug 5apenetrating the hole 6 in the pin 2. The stripped end 12 of the wire 13is then introduced as by sliding it under the tongues of the couplingdevice 1, preferably to be received by embrasure 14. The coupling device1 is then very solidly locked to the pin 2 and at the same time thestripped end 12 of the wire 13 is firmly pressed against the pin by theelasticity or springiness of the tongues. Finally, it should be noted,as has already been mentioned above, that the selfholding action of thetongues of the coupling is exerted with greater force as traction endingto pull the wire 13 from the coupling increases.

As is shown in FIG. 4, the stripped end 12 of the wire 13 is in directcontact with the prolongation of the pin 2, and is pressurized by theelectrical coupling device 1 of the present invention to remain indirect contact therewith.

The terminal connector of the present invention thus provides a verycompact electrical coupling which is economical to manufacture and issuited for the instant manual mechanical electrical connection between aconductor and a conducting pin of an electrical device. The electricalconnection developed by utilizing the coupling device of the presentinvention provides a very secure electrical connection while offering ahigh resistance to forces tending to extract the wire from saidconnection.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made by way of example andthat numerous changes in the details of construction and combination andarrangement of the parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An electrical coupling device for establishing an electricalconnection between a conductor and the conducting pin of an electricalapparatus, said coupling device comprising a body of generallycross-sectionally C shape, the wings of said C being close enough to thebase of the C to retain said pin and said conductor in directpressurized contact upon insertion of said pin and said conductor intosaid coupling device, said wings each comprising a pair of tongues whichare inclined with respect to the base, each tongue having an end slopingoutwardly from the base to aid insertion of said conductor and anopposed end sloping towards the base to provide a biting edge to resistremoval of said conductor, said coupling device adapted to establishsaid electrical connection when said pin is inserted from the end of thecoupling whereat the ends of the tongues are inclined toward the bodyand then the conductor is inserted between the wings and the pin fromthe end of the coupling whereat the ends of the tongues are inclinedfrom the body.

2. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the base of the C includes alug protruding towards the wings, said lug designed to engage an openingprovided in said pin upon insertion of said pin into said conductor.

3. The coupling device of claim 2 wherein said lug comprises a smalltriangular strip cut out of the base of the C and bent toward the wings.

4. The electrical coupling device of claim 2 wherein the embrasurebetween the wings of the C is generally aligned with the axis of thebody of the C and is of a width approximately half that of theconductor.

1. An electrical coupling device for establishing an electricalconnection between a conductor and the conducting pin of an electricalapparatus, said coupling device comprising a body of generallycross-sectionally C shape, the wings of said C being close enough to thebase of the C to retain said pin and said conductor in directpressurized contact upon insertion of said pin and said conductor intosaid coupling device, said wings each comprising a pair of tongues whichare inclined with respect to the base, each tongue having an end slopingoutwardly from the base to aid insertion of said conductor and anopposed end sloping towards the base to provide a biting edge to resistremoval of said conductor, said coupling device adapted to establishsaid electrical connection when said pin is inserted from the end of thecoupling whereat the ends of the tongues are inclined toward the bodyand then the conductor is inserted between the wings and the pin fromthe end of the coupling whereat the ends of the tongues are inclinedfrom the body.
 2. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the base of theC includes a lug protruding towards the wings, said lug designed toengage an opening provided in said pin upon insertion of said pin intosaid conductor.
 3. The coupling device of claim 2 wherein said lugcomprises a small triangular strip cut out of the base of the C and benttoward the wings.
 4. The electrical coupling device of claim 2 whereinthe embrasure between the wings of the C is generally aligned with theaxis of the body of the C and is of a width approximately half that ofthe conductor.